Hisurfer

We have two to three days to drive from Patzcuaro back to Puerto Vallarta. We'd like to stop in some interesting places, and will have already driven along the coast. Is Guadalajara the main option? I don't like the idea of driving into a major Latin city.

We read a bit on Lake Chappala, but it all looks too geared for snow birds.

Are there any cool & interesting places to stop and explore along the route? There is precious little online or in the books I have.

Hisurfer

Funny how you post a question, and then the answer comes to you after you hit "send."
We'll fly into Guad, spend the first weekend car-free, then rent one for a ten day meander through Michoacan and then up the coast to PV.

Still open to suggestions to cool spots inland! Patzcuaro, Uruapan, and the butterfly sanctuaries are already high on our list.

mikemo

Kind of a long drive, but my town (San Miguel de Allende) or historic Guanajuato might be of interest.
Driving in Gto. is not fun, but it's "nearly" on the way back to PV and very European.
Chapala and Ajijic are mostly middle class retirement communities.
There is a VG restaurant on Calle Ocampo in Ajijic: Pedro's
The women in Nayarit are among the most stunning in MX. (a compliment, not a sexist remark, lol)
M

Stewbear

Colima is a wonderful Colonial city that can be reached via Guadalajara if some what out of the way. Ajijic/Chapala is not really all that interesting IMO. Maybe a 1/2 day then on to Colima.

mikemo

Stewb,
They are travelling S from PV and spending time @ Costalegre before going to Patzcauro.
So, Colima would be a stop maybe before Patzcauro?
M

Hisurfer

Actually, we decided to reverse direction:
Guadalajara - Patzcuaro - Costa Alegre [Maruata, Melaque] - Puerto Vallarta. That way we only have the car for the drive, and we get to start with a weekend in the big city.

That also still leaves us with two days to play with!

Stewbear

You are of course correct. I miss read their original post. In that case I would spend at least a night in Morelia on the way back, them drive on to Tlaquepaque on the south outskirts of Guadalajara staying at www.quintadonjose.com a lovely B & B with off street parking & with in walking distance of the town square. I would then take a cab into Guadalajara seeing the sights of which there are a multitude.

mikemo

Great input from all.
Thanks and all the forums need this give and take.
Buen viaje, mis amigos.
M (TA local for SMdA)